Isha Foundation led by Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev ran a month-long Rally for rivers campaign across the country
The Prime Minister's Office (PMO) and the Ministry of Water Resources (MoWR) have constituted separate committees to examine Isha Foundation's draft policy to revitalise rivers that was submitted to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in October. This information was revealed by the MoWR in reply to a Right to Information application filed by Noida-based environmental activist Vikrant Tongad. DNA has reviewed the RTI response and also confirmed it independently with Ministry of Water Resources.
The PMO has constituted a group under the Chief Executive Officer, Niti Aayog, to examine the issue while MoWR has formed a committee under the National Institute of Hydrology chairman Sharad Kumar Jain. The group headed by Niti Aayog CEO will consist of respective secretaries of MoWR, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change( MoEF&CC), Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Ministry of Rural Development, and Agriculture Ministry.
The non-profit Isha Foundation led by Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev ran a month-long Rally for rivers campaign across the country. Jaggi Vasudev campaigned across states along with volunteers for rejuvenation of rivers through afforestation. The draft policy submitted to the Centre has recommended, among other things, that there should mass plantation on 1km of land on either side of rivers.
MoWR has noted in its preliminary reply to the PMO that "plantation is an important component for revitalising rivers, but it cannot be the sole activity." The Ministry also said that the feasibility of the move needs to be examined in detail after ascertaining the present land-use pattern and in discussion with stakeholders, mainly the farmers.
MoWR has also sought inputs and recommendations from concerned ministries on the NGO's plan. So far only the environment ministry has replied, a senior official from the ministry said. Environment ministry officials could not be reached for comment.
"As this requires in-depth work, the ministry is constituting a committee for detailed examination of the book and its recommendations," the ministry added in its response to the PMO.
CAMPAIGN SO FAR
- Isha Foundation led by Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev ran a month-long Rally for rivers campaign across the country.
- The organisation also submitted a draft policy to the Centre with recommendations.
- It suggests that there should be mass tree plantation on 1km land on either side of rivers.
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 "Rajnath Singh with Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev")
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